Methods and apparatus for installing a scrubber brush on a mandrel

ABSTRACT

In a first aspect, a method is provided for assembling a scrubber brush assembly. The method includes the steps of (1) inserting one or more inserts into an opening of a scrubber brush, wherein the opening of the scrubber brush is defined by an interior surface of the scrubber brush; (2) inserting a mandrel into the opening of the scrubber brush such that the one or more inserts are between an exterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surface of the scrubber brush; and (3) removing the one or more inserts to allow the exterior surface of the mandrel to contact the interior surface of the scrubber brush, thereby installing the scrubber brush onto the mandrel. Numerous other aspects are provided.

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/540,140, filed Jan. 29, 2004. The content of theabove-identified patent application is hereby incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devicemanufacturing, and more particularly to methods and apparatus forinstalling a scrubber brush on a mandrel.

BACKGROUND

A scrubber brush assembly, which includes a scrubber brush coupled to amandrel, may be used for cleaning a substrate. For example, the scrubberbrush assembly may be employed in a substrate processing system, such asa substrate cleaning system, to scrub a major surface of a substrateduring substrate processing. Further, the scrubber brush assembly may beused in other substrate processing systems.

To assemble the scrubber brush assembly for use in a substrateprocessing system, the scrubber brush must be installed (e.g., slid)onto the mandrel. However, installing a scrubber brush on a mandrel isdifficult due to friction created between the scrubber brush and themandrel during assembly. Accordingly, improved methods and apparatus forinstalling a scrubber brush on a mandrel are desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect of the invention, a method is provided for assemblinga scrubber brush assembly. The method includes the steps of (1)inserting one or more inserts into an opening of a scrubber brush,wherein the opening of the scrubber brush is defined by an interiorsurface of the scrubber brush; (2) inserting a mandrel into the openingof the scrubber brush such that the one or more inserts are between anexterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surface of the scrubberbrush; and (3) removing the one or more inserts to allow the exteriorsurface of the mandrel to contact the interior surface of the scrubberbrush, thereby installing the scrubber brush onto the mandrel.

In a second aspect of the invention, a first apparatus is provided. Thefirst apparatus includes a scrubber brush assembly fixture that includesa housing having (1) a first end defining a first opening; and (2) asecond end defining a second opening for receiving a mandrel to beinstalled in a scrubber brush. The second end includes one or more offeatures around a perimeter of the second opening, adapted to receive afirst end of an insert. The first apparatus also includes one or moreinserts adapted to couple to the housing via the one or more features.

In a third aspect of the invention, a second apparatus is provided. Thesecond apparatus includes a mandrel adapted to be inserted into ascrubber brush so as to form a scrubber brush assembly. The mandrel has(1) a first end; (2) a second end; and (3) one or more position guidesadjacent at least one of the first and second ends adapted to position ascrubber brush on the mandrel. Numerous other aspects are provided inaccordance with these and other aspects of the invention.

Other features and aspects of the present invention will become morefully apparent from the following detailed description, the appendedclaims and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a brush that may be included in a brushassembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of a first exemplary mandrel in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first exemplary mandrel of FIG.2 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a second exemplary mandrel in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a lengthwise cross-sectional view of a mandrel being insertedinto a brush to form the brush assembly using a brush assembly fixturein accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an end view of a housing of the brush assembly fixture of FIG.5 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of the housing ofFIG. 6 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method for use of the inventive brushassembly fixture in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of one or more strips inserted into a brushopening in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a base coupled to a mandrel inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a mandrel inserted into the brushassembly fixture while the mandrel is coupled to the base of FIG. 10 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a mandrel (shown in phantom) along witha brush mounted thereon, and portions of a brush assembly fixturecoupled thereto in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A scrubber brush assembly, which includes a scrubber brush coupled to amandrel, may be used for cleaning a substrate. For example, the scrubberbrush assembly may be employed in a substrate processing system, such asa substrate cleaning system, to scrub a major surface of a substrateduring substrate processing. Further, the scrubber brush assembly may beused in other substrate processing systems.

To assemble the scrubber brush assembly for use in a substrateprocessing system, the scrubber brush must be installed (e.g., slid)onto the mandrel. However, installing a scrubber brush on a mandrel isdifficult due to friction created between the scrubber brush and themandrel during assembly. The present methods and apparatus reducefriction created between the scrubber brush and mandrel while assemblingthe brush assembly.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a brush 101 that may be included in abrush assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The brush 101 may be cylindrical in shape and may be a lengthL1. The brush 101 includes an exterior surface 103, which may be of adiameter D1. The exterior surface 103 of the brush 101 may be profiled.For example, the exterior surface 103 of the brush 101 may includeraised surface features 107, such as nodules. Alternatively, in otherembodiments, the exterior surface 103 of the brush 101 may include asmooth geometry. The brush 101 may, for example, be porous and/or spongelike and/or may be comprised of a resilient material such as polyvinylacetate (PVA). The brush 101 may comprise other and/or differentmaterials, and may exhibit other and/or different materialcharacteristics.

The brush 101 may include an interior surface 105 which defines anopening 106 of a diameter D2. The interior surface 105 of the brush 101may include features, such as knurling, grooves, a rough finish, etc.,which create high friction when the interior surface 105 of the brush101 contacts a mandrel of a brush assembly (as described below) andthereby deter slippage between the brush 101 and mandrel. The interiorsurface 105 of the brush 101 may include additional and/or otherfeatures.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are an end view and a cross-sectional view, respectively,of a first exemplary mandrel 201 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. The mandrel 201 is cylindrical in shape with adiameter D3, which is approximately the diameter D2 of the interiorsurface 105 of the brush 101. The mandrel 201 includes an exteriorsurface 203 that contacts the interior surface 105 of the brush 101 whenthe mandrel 201 is inserted into the brush 101 (e.g., the brush 101 isinstalled onto the mandrel 201) to form a brush assembly. Similar to theinterior surface 105 of the brush 101, the exterior surface 203 of themandrel 201 may include features, such as knurling, grooves, a roughfinish, etc., which create high friction when the exterior surface 203of the mandrel 201 contacts the brush 101. In some embodiments, themandrel 201 may include one or more notches or tabs 205 along aperimeter of an end of the mandrel 201 to ensure that the brush 101 doesnot extend therepast. In this manner, the tabs 205 along the first end301 and second end 303 of the mandrel 201 may serve as position guidesfor the brush 101 as well as prevent the brush 101 from moving (e.g.,sliding) off the mandrel 201 during operation of the brush assembly. Aswill be described further below, the tabs 205 included along the one ormore ends 301, 303 of the mandrel 201 may serve to guide a portion of aninventive brush assembly fixture (described below), as well.Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the exterior surface203 of a mandrel may include a different type of position guide, such asone or more grooves (e.g., V-shaped grooves). For example, FIG. 4 is aside view of a second exemplary mandrel in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention. With reference to FIG. 4, the second exemplarymandrel 401 may be similar to the first exemplary mandrel 201. Thesecond exemplary mandrel 401 may include a first and/or second groove403, 405 along the exterior surface 203 of the mandrel 401. The firstand/or second groove 403, 405 may serve as a position guide for a brushinstalled on the mandrel 401. For example, when installing a brush 101on the mandrel 401, a user may align an end of the brush with one of thefirst and/or second grooves 403, 405.

As shown in FIGS. 3-4, the first and/or second exemplary mandrel 201,401 may be a single-piece mandrel. However, in some embodiments, thefirst and/or second mandrel 201, 401 may include a plurality of piecescoupled together.

FIG. 5 is a lengthwise cross-sectional view of a mandrel 201 beinginserted into a brush 101 to form a brush assembly using a brushassembly fixture 501 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The brush assembly fixture 501 includes a housing 503 and oneor more strips 505, each of which has a first end 506 and a second end507, coupled thereto. A first end 508 of the housing 503 may be adaptedto couple to an end of the brush 101 so as to allow items inserted intothe housing 503 to be inserted into the brush 101. A second end 509 ofthe housing 503 may be adapted to couple to and receive a first end 506of the one or more strips 505 and an end 301, 303 of the mandrel 201. Aswill be described further below, the brush assembly fixture 501 may beused for assembling the brush assembly (e.g., the brush 101 and themandrel 201).

FIGS. 6 and 7 are an end view and a cross-sectional view taken alongline 7-7, respectively, of the housing 503 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7,the second end 509 of the housing 503 includes one or more slots 601 forreceiving one or more strips 505 (FIG. 5) to form the brush assemblyfixture 501. In one embodiment, the number of slots 601 included in thehousing 503 may correspond to the number of tabs 205 included along theperimeter of one or more ends 301, 303 of the mandrel 201. Other numbersof slots 601 may be employed. Each strip 505 may be formed from alow-friction material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon®)for example, or from other materials. Each strip 505 is sized such thatthe first end 506 of the strip 505 may be inserted into a slot 601included in the housing 503. A second end 507 of each strip 505preferably is bent to allow the second end 507 of the strip 505 to restin the housing 503 without going through the slot 601. The length ofeach strip 505 may be greater than the combined lengths of the housingL2 and the brush L1. Other strip lengths may be employed. For example, astrip 505 may be other lengths so long as when the strip 505 is insertedinto a slot 601 of the housing 503, the strip 505 extends through thehousing 503 and into the interior surface 105 of the brush 101. In oneexemplary embodiment, for a brush assembly including a brush about 12.5inches long, each strip 505 may be approximately 11-12.75 inches long,approximately 0.2 inches wide and approximately 0.1 inch thick. Otherstrip dimensions may be employed.

The first end 508 of the housing 503 may include a first opening 701 ofa diameter D4 for coupling to and/or receiving the exterior surface 103of the brush 101. The diameter D4 of the first opening 701 may beapproximately equal to the diameter D1 of the exterior surface 103 ofthe brush 101. In other embodiments, the diameter D4 of the firstopening 701 may be larger or smaller.

Similarly, the second end 509 of the housing 503 may include a secondopening 603 of a diameter D5 for receiving an end 301, 303 of themandrel 201. The diameter D5 of the opening 503 may be approximatelyequal to the diameter D3 of the mandrel 201. In other embodiments, thediameter D5 of the second opening 503 may be larger or smaller.

The operation of the brush assembly fixture 501 for assembling a brushassembly is now described with reference to FIGS. 1-7 and 9 and withreference to FIG. 8 which illustrates an exemplary method 801 for use ofthe inventive brush assembly fixture in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. More specifically, an exemplary method forinstalling a brush 101 onto a mandrel 201, 401 (e.g., inserting amandrel 201, 401 into a brush 101) is described. With reference to FIG.8, in step 803, the method 801 begins. In step 805, one or more stripsmay be inserted into a housing 503 of the brush fixture assembly. Morespecifically, a first end 506 of one or more strips 505 may be insertedinto one or more slots 601 included around a perimeter of a secondopening 603 in a second end 509 of the housing 503, respectively. Thefirst end 506 of the strip 505 is inserted into the slot 601 until asecond end 507 (e.g., the bent end) of the strip 505 rests in thehousing 503. The first end 506 of the strip 505 extends through thefirst opening 701 of the housing 503. In one embodiment, a strip 505 maybe inserted into each slot 601 included in the housing 503. In thismanner, the brush assembly fixture 501 is assembled.

In step 807, the one or more strips 505 are inserted into an opening 106of a brush 101. The opening 106 of the brush 101 may be defined by aninterior surface 105 of the brush 101. The first end 506 of the one ormore strips 505, which extends through the first opening 701 of thehousing 503, are inserted into the opening 106 of the brush 101 suchthat the one or more strips 505 are adjacent the interior surface 105 ofthe brush 101. As described above, the length of the one or more strips505 may be defined such that the one or more strips 505 are adjacent theinterior surface 105 of the brush 101 throughout the entire length L1 ofthe brush 101. Alternatively, strips of other lengths may be employed.FIG. 9 is an isometric view of one or more strips 505 inserted into anopening of a brush 101 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. More specifically, with reference to FIG. 9, after step 807is performed, the one or more strips 505 may extend through the housing503 and into the opening of the brush 101 in the manner described above.

In step 809, a mandrel 201, 401 may be inserted through an opening inthe housing 503 into the opening 106 of the brush 101 such that the oneor more strips 505 are between an exterior surface 203 of the mandrel201, 401 and the interior surface 105 of the brush 101. Morespecifically, an end 301, 303 of the mandrel 201, 401 may be insertedthrough the second opening 603 of the housing 503, the first opening 701of the housing 503, the opening 106 of the brush 101, and through theinterior surface 105 of the brush 101 until the end 301, 303 of themandrel 201, 401 exits the other opening (not shown in FIG. 1; 511 inFIG. 5) of the brush 101. While the end 301, 303 of the mandrel 201, 401is inserted into and through the brush 101, the one or more strips 505are between the mandrel 201, 401 and the brush 101. Preferably, theexterior surface 203 of the mandrel 201, 401 will predominately contactthe one or more strips 505 while being inserted into the brush 101 toform the brush assembly. As stated, the one or more strips 505 areformed from polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon®) or similarlow-friction material. Therefore, in contrast to the high-frictioninterface created when the exterior surface 203 of the mandrel 201, 401which may include features such as knurling, grooves, a rough finish,etc., directly contacts the interior surface 105 of the brush 101, theinterface between the mandrel 201, 401 and the one or more strips 505creates little or no friction while the mandrel 201, 401 is insertedinto the brush 101.

The notches or tabs 205 which may be included along the perimeter of oneor more ends 301, 303 of the mandrel 201, 401 may serve to guide aportion (e.g., the one or more strips 505) of the brush assembly fixture501, and therefore ensure alignment of the portion of the brush assemblyfixture 501 (e.g., the one or more strips 505) with the mandrel 201,401.

In one or more embodiments, (e.g., during step 807 and/or 809) thehousing 503 may be coupled to an end of the brush 101 that includes theopening 105. Alternatively, the housing 503 may not be coupled to thebrush 101 (e.g., during step 807 or 809).

In step 811, the one or more strips 505 are removed to allow theexterior surface 203 of the mandrel 201, 401 to contact the interiorsurface 105 of the brush 101. The second end 507 of a strip 505 may beemployed to pull the strip 505 from the housing 503. Alternatively, thefirst end 506 of the strip 505 may be employed to push the strip 505from the housing 503. Because the one or more strips 505 are made ofpolytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon®) or similar low-frictionmaterial, little or no friction is created at the interface of the oneor more strips 505 and the exterior surface 203 of the mandrel 201, 401and at the interface of the one or more strips 505 and the interiorsurface 105 of the brush 101. In this manner, the mandrel 201, 401 maybe inserted into the brush 101, thereby assembling the brush assembly.Thereafter, if the housing 503 was coupled to the brush 101 in step 807and/or 809, the housing 503 is removed from the brush 101.

Through the use of the method 801 of FIG. 8, a brush assembly fixture501 may be employed to assemble a brush assembly by installing a brush101 onto a mandrel 201, 401 (e.g., inserting a mandrel 201, 401 into abrush 101) with little difficulty. More specifically, the inventivebrush assembly fixture 501 may be employed to reduce and/or eliminatethe friction of the interface between the exterior surface 203 of themandrel 201, 401 and the interior surface 105 of the brush 101 whileassembling the brush assembly.

The foregoing description discloses only exemplary embodiments of theinvention. Modifications of the above disclosed apparatus and methodswhich fall within the scope of the invention will be readily apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art. For instance, in some embodiments,the brush assembly fixture 501 may include a base adapted to couple to amandrel 201, 401. FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a base coupled to amandrel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Withreference to FIG. 10, the base 1001 may include a plate 1003, which isadapted for placement on a flat surface, and a pusher 1005 adapted toextend therefrom. For example, when the plate 1003 is on a flat surface(e.g., in the xy-plane), the pusher 1005 may extend in a directionsubstantially perpendicular thereto (e.g., in a direction substantiallyalong the z-axis). However, in other embodiments, the orientation of theplate 1003 relative to the pusher 1005 may differ. The plate 1003 and/orpusher 1005 may be formed from plastic or the like (although differentmaterials may be employed).

In embodiments in which the brush assembly fixture 501 includes the base1001, before step 809 of the method 800 is performed, the mandrel 201,401 may be coupled to the base 1001. More specifically, an end 301, 303of the mandrel 201, 401 may be adapted to couple with the pusher 1005.When coupled to the pusher 1005, the mandrel 201, 401 may extendtherefrom. For example, the mandrel 201, 401 may extend from the pusher1005 in a direction substantially along the z-axis (although theorientation of the pusher 1005 relative to the mandrel 201, 401 maydiffer).

Thereafter, the base 1001 may be employed to perform step 809. Morespecifically, one end 301, 303 of the mandrel 201, 401 may be insertedthrough an opening 603, 701 in the housing 503 into the opening 106 ofthe brush 101 such that the one or more strips 505 are between anexterior surface 203 of the mandrel 201, 401 and the interior surface105 of the brush 101, while the other end 301, 303 of the mandrel 201,401 is coupled to the base 1001. FIG. 11 is an isometric view of amandrel inserted into a brush assembly fixture while the mandrel iscoupled to the base in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. With reference to FIG. 11, the assembly shown in FIG. 9,which includes one or more strips 505 extending through the housing 505and into the opening of the brush 101 may be installed on the assembly(shown in FIG. 10) including the mandrel 201, 401 coupled to the base1001.

Thereafter, the mandrel 201, 401 along with the brush 101 mountedthereon, and the portion of the brush assembly fixture coupled thereto(e.g., the housing 503 and the one or more strips 505) may be removedfrom the base 1001. Once the mandrel 201, 401 is removed from the base1001, step 811 (described above) may be performed. FIG. 12 is anisometric view of the mandrel 201, 401 (shown in phantom) along with thebrush 101 mounted thereon, and portions of the brush assembly fixturecoupled thereto from which the one or more strips 505 are being removedin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Once the oneor more strips 505 are removed and/or the housing 503 is removed, theinterior surface 105 of the brush 101 may contact the exterior surface203 of the mandrel 201, 401, and in this manner, the brush 101 may beinstalled on the mandrel 201, 401.

Although in one or more embodiments, the one or more strips 505 areflat, the one or more strips 505 may be other shapes. In suchembodiments, the slots 601 included in the housing 503 may be adjustedaccordingly. Further, although in one or more embodiments, one or morestrips 505 are inserted into the housing 503, in other embodiments,rather than using strips, a cylinder (e.g., a cylinder formed ofpolytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon®) or similar low-frictionmaterial) with a first end and a second end, which is bent, may beinserted into the housing 503 such that the second end rests in thehousing 503. In such an embodiment, the slots 601 are replaced with anappropriate opening to receive the first end of the cylinder. Although,in some embodiments described above, the brush assembly fixture 501 maybe a two-piece assembly, the one or more strips 505 may be permanentlycoupled to the housing 503 to form a one-piece brush assembly fixturesuch that removal of the housing also removes all of the strips.Although a cylindrical housing 503 and brush 101 are employed, othershapes may be used for the housing 503 and/or the brush 101. In sum, theinvention employs a low friction material insert (e.g., strips) that maybe coupled so as to be between the brush and mandrel during assembly. Inthis manner, brush/mandrel assembly is facilitated. The insert(s) may becoupled to a housing which may be coupled to or held adjacent the brushor mandrel, or the insert(s) may be directly coupled to the brush and/ormandrel rather than to a housing.

In one aspect of the invention, methods and apparatus are provided forassembling a brush assembly by (1) inserting one or more inserts into anopening of a brush, wherein the opening of the brush is defined by aninterior surface of the brush; (2) inserting a mandrel into the openingof the brush such that the one or more inserts are between an exteriorsurface of the mandrel and the interior surface of the brush; and (3)removing the one or more inserts to allow the exterior surface of themandrel to contact the interior surface of the brush, thereby installingthe brush onto the mandrel.

Accordingly, while the present invention has been disclosed inconnection with exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understoodthat other embodiments may fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention, as defined by the following claims.

1. A method for assembling a scrubber brush assembly, comprising:inserting one or more inserts into an opening of a scrubber brush,wherein the opening of the scrubber brush is defined by an interiorsurface of the scrubber brush; inserting a mandrel into the opening ofthe scrubber brush such that the one or more inserts are between anexterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surface of the scrubberbrush; and removing the one or more inserts to allow the exteriorsurface of the mandrel to contact the interior surface of the scrubberbrush, thereby installing the scrubber brush onto the mandrel.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein: inserting the one or more inserts into anopening of a scrubber brush includes: inserting the one or more insertsinto a housing; and while in the housing, inserting the one or moreinserts into an opening of a scrubber brush; and removing the one ormore inserts to allow the exterior surface of the mandrel to contact theinterior surface of the scrubber brush includes removing the one or moreinserts from the housing.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein inserting themandrel into the opening of the scrubber brush such that the one or moreinserts are between the exterior surface of the mandrel and the interiorsurface of the scrubber brush includes reducing friction between theexterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surface of the scrubberbrush.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more inserts compriselow friction inserts.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprisingcoupling the mandrel onto a base before inserting the mandrel into theopening of the scrubber brush such that the one or more inserts arebetween an exterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surface ofthe scrubber brush.
 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising removingthe mandrel from the base after inserting the mandrel into the openingof the scrubber brush such that the one or more inserts are between anexterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surface of the scrubberbrush.
 7. A scrubber brush assembly fixture, comprising: a housinghaving: a first end defining a first opening; and a second end defininga second opening adapted to receive a mandrel to be installed in ascrubber brush, wherein the second end includes one or more of featuresaround a perimeter of the second opening adapted to receive a first endof an insert; and one or more inserts adapted to couple to the housingvia the one or more features.
 8. The scrubber brush assembly fixture ofclaim 7 wherein the scrubber brush assembly fixture is adapted to: allowinsertion of the one or more inserts into an opening of the scrubberbrush, wherein the opening of the scrubber brush is defined by aninterior surface of the scrubber brush; allow insertion of a mandrelinto the opening of the scrubber brush such that the one or more insertsare between an exterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surfaceof the scrubber brush; and allow removal of the one or more inserts toallow the exterior surface of the mandrel to contact the interiorsurface of the scrubber brush, thereby installing the scrubber brushonto the mandrel.
 9. The scrubber brush assembly fixture of claim 8wherein the scrubber brush assembly fixture is further adapted to reducefriction between the exterior surface of the mandrel and the interiorsurface of the scrubber brush.
 10. The scrubber brush assembly fixtureof claim 8 wherein the one or more inserts comprise low frictioninserts.
 11. The scrubber brush assembly fixture of claim 7 wherein theone or more inserts are formed from polytetrafluoroethylene.
 12. Thescrubber brush assembly fixture of claim 7 further comprising a basehaving: a plate; and a pusher, coupled to the plate, and adapted tocouple to a mandrel.
 13. The scrubber brush assembly fixture of claim 12wherein the base is adapted to couple to an end of the mandrel suchthat: the second end of the housing may receive the mandrel; and themandrel may be inserted into an opening of the scrubber brush such thatthe one or more inserts are between an exterior surface of the mandreland the interior surface of the scrubber brush.
 14. An apparatus,comprising: a mandrel adapted to be inserted into a scrubber brush so asto form a scrubber brush assembly, the mandrel having: a first end; asecond end; and one or more position guides adjacent at least one of thefirst and second ends and adapted to position a scrubber brush on themandrel.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the one or more positionguides include one or more notches or tabs along a perimeter of at leastone of the first and second ends.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 whereinthe one or more position guides are further adapted to guide one or moreportions of a scrubber brush assembly fixture to position the scrubberbrush assembly fixture relative to the mandrel.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 15 wherein the one or more position guides include one or moregrooves along a perimeter of at least one of the first and second ends.18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the mandrel is a single-piecemandrel.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein an exterior surface ofthe mandrel includes at least one of knurls, grooves and a rough finish.20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first end of the mandrel isadapted to couple to a base of a scrubber brush assembly fixture adaptedto insert the mandrel into the scrubber brush.